System and method for protecting transport stream content

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods that protect transport stream content are disclosed. The system may include a first module and a second module, the first module having a common interface. The second module is coupled to the first module via the common interface. In one embodiment, the first module is a set top box, and the second module is a conditional access card. In one example, the first module demodulates an incoming transport stream, copy protection encrypts the demodulated transport stream and passes the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the second module via the common interface. The second module copy protection decrypts the transport stream received from the first module, conditional access decrypts at least some of packets of the transport stream that were conditional access encrypted, copy protection encrypts the transport stream and passes the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the first module via the common interface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/153,338, filed May 22, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,058,803. The above-identified application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods that protect transport stream content and, more specifically, to systems and methods that protect unscrambled transport stream content.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A receiver and, in particular, a set top box generally receives information signals that have been scrambled and information signals that have not been scrambled (i.e., clear information signals). An example of a clear information signal is a network television broadcast signal. Current laws and regulations may prohibit the scrambling of network television broadcast signals. Accordingly, there is a risk that the network television broadcast signal which is received by the set top box may be stored or re-routed outside of the set top box, resulting in possibly unauthorized broadcasting, streaming or copying of the network television broadcast signals.

What is needed is a system or a method that protects transport stream content, even transport stream content that has not been scrambled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may provide systems and methods that protect transport stream content. The system may include a first module and a second module, the first module having a common interface. The second module is coupled to the first module via the common interface. The first module demodulates an incoming transport stream, copy protection encrypts the demodulated transport stream and passes the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the second module via the common interface. The second module copy protection decrypts the transport stream received from the first module, conditional access decrypts at least some of packets of the transport stream that were conditional access encrypted, copy protection encrypts the transport stream and passes the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the first module via the common interface.

The present invention may also provide systems and methods that protect transport stream content. The system may include a first module and a second module, the first module having a common interface. The second module is coupled to the first module via the common interface. The first module demodulates an incoming transport stream, copy protection encrypts packets of the demodulated transport stream that were not conditional access encrypted and passes the copy protection encrypted packets and the conditional access encrypted packets of the transport stream to the second module via the common interface. The second module conditional access decrypts at least some of the packets of the transport stream that were conditional access encrypted, copy protection encrypts the packets of the transport stream that were conditional access decrypted and passes the transport stream to the first module via the common interface.

The present invention may provide an advantage in that packets of the transport stream that pass through the common interface, which may be user accessible, are either copy protection encrypted or conditional access encrypted. Thus, a user could not tap or re-route, via the common interface, packets that were not encrypted.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the present invention, along with the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block representation of an example of a conditional access system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block representation of an example of a conditional access card according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of a method that protects a transport stream according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a block representation of another example of a conditional access card according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating another example of a method that protects a transport stream according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a block representation of an example of a conditional access system 100 according to the present invention. The conditional access system 100 may include, for example, a head-end module 110 and a receiver module 120. The head-end module 110 is coupled to the receiver module 120 via a communication media that is wired (e.g., cables, landline networks, terrestrial networks, etc.); wireless (e.g., satellite signals, radio frequency (RF) signals, cellular signals, personal communications services (PCS) signals, infrared (IR) signals, etc.); or some combination thereof.

The receiver module 120 may comprise, for example, a set top box 130. The set top box 130 may include, for example, a demodulator 140, a copy protection encryption unit 150, a common interface 160, a conditional access card 170 and a transport processor 180. The set top box 130 may include other components that are not shown or described here but are known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the set top box 130 may be coupled to an output device (e.g., a display, a screen, a monitor, a storage device, a printer, etc.) or other devices that are also known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The head-end module 110 is coupled to the demodulator 140 of the set top box 130. The demodulator 140 is coupled to the copy protection encryption unit 150. The copy protection encryption unit 150 is coupled to the conditional access card 170 via the common interface 160. The conditional access card 170 is coupled to the transport processor 180 via the common interface 160. The present invention contemplates that the common interface 160 may be integrated, at least in part, with one or more of the above-described components or may be a separate module.

The conditional access card 170 may be, for example, a personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) card, a smart card, an interface card or a printed circuit board, that is plugged into, mounted on or integrated with the set top box 130 via the common interface 160 which may be accessible by the user or the subscriber. In particular, the conditional access card 170 may be, for example, a common interface card or a point of deployment (POD) module.

In operation, the head-end module 110, for example, managed by the content provider, may provide content to, for example, subscribers located at the receiver module 120. The content may be scrambled via, for example, a conditional access encryption unit of the head-end module 110, to protect against unauthorized access (e.g., by a non-subscriber, by a limited-access subscriber, etc.) However, federal laws may prohibit the content provider from scrambling all content provided to the receiver module 120. For example, federal laws may prohibit the scrambling of network television broadcast signals. Accordingly, the transport stream provided by the head-end module 110 to the receiver module 120 may include scrambled packets and unscrambled packets (i.e., clear packets). The transport stream is modulated and sent to the receiver module 120. The demodulator 140 of the set top box 130 demodulates the received transport stream and forwards the demodulated transport stream to the copy protection encryption unit 150.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides that the copy protection encryption unit 150 copy protection encrypts the entire demodulated transport stream. The copy encrypted transport stream is then sent to the conditional access card 170 via the common interface 160. The conditional access card 170 copy protection decrypts the entire demodulated transport stream and unscrambles the scrambled packets of the copy protection decrypted transport stream. The conditional access card 170 may unscramble all of the scrambled packets or may unscramble some of the scrambled packets (e.g., unscramble only those packets associated with a particular premium movie channel). The conditional access card 170 then copy protection encrypts the entire transport stream before sending the copy protection encrypted transported stream to the transport processor 180 via the common interface 160. The transport processor 180 may then copy protection decrypt the received transport stream before processing the transport stream. The further processing of the transport stream in the set top box 130 is known to one of ordinary skill in the art and is not described further herein.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides that the copy protection encryption unit 150 copy protection encrypts the clear packets within the demodulated transport stream. Whether a packet is clear or scrambled can be determined, for example, by a bit in a header portion of the packet. The transport stream, including copy protection encrypted packets and scrambled packets, is then sent to the conditional access card 170 via the common interface 160. The conditional access card 170 unscrambles the scrambled packets of the received transport stream. As described above, the conditional access card 170 may unscramble all of the scrambled packets or may unscramble some of the scrambled packets. The conditional access card 170 then copy protection encrypts the unscrambled packets of the transport stream before sending the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the transport processor 180 via the common interface 160. The transport processor 180 may then copy protection decrypt the copy protection encrypted packets of the received transport stream before processing the transport stream. As described above, the further processing of the transport stream in the set top box 130 is known to one of ordinary skill in the art and is not described further herein.

In the above-described embodiments, the present invention may provide that the packets of the transport stream that pass through the common interface 160 are either scrambled or copy protection encrypted. Thus, although the common interface 160 may be user accessible, a user could not obtain any clear or unscrambled packets at the common interface 160 and potentially tap or re-route the clear or unscrambled packets to a destination outside the set top box 130 resulting in, for example, unauthorized broadcasting, streaming or copying of clear or unscrambled packets of the transport stream.

FIG. 2 shows a block representation of an example of the conditional access card 170 according to the present invention. The conditional access card 170 may include, for example, a copy protection decryption unit 190, a conditional access decryption unit 200, and a copy protection encryption unit 210. The copy protection decryption unit 190 is coupled to the conditional access unit 200 which, in turn, is coupled to the copy protection encryption unit 210.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of a method that protects a transport content stream according to the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the process begins, in step 220, by demodulating the transport stream received by the demodulator 140 of the receiver module 120 from the head-end module 110. The demodulated transport stream is sent to the copy protection encryption unit 150. In step 230, the copy protection encryption unit 150 encrypts the entire demodulated transport stream and, in step 240, sends the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the conditional access card 170 via the common interface 160. In step 250, the copy protection decryption unit 190 of the conditional access card 170 copy protection decrypts the entire encrypted transport stream. In step 260, the conditional access decryption unit 200 decrypts (i.e., unscrambles) the conditional access encrypted packets (i.e., the scrambled packets) of the copy protection decrypted transport stream. The conditional access decryption unit 200 may unscramble all of the scrambled packets or may unscramble some of the scrambled packets (e.g., unscramble only those packets associated with a particular channel). In step 270, the copy protection encryption unit 210 then copy protection encrypts the entire transport stream before, in step 280, sending the copy protection encrypted transported stream to the transport processor 180 via the common interface 160. In step 290, the transport processor 180 then copy protection decrypts the received transport stream before processing the transport stream in step 300. Alternatively, step 290 may be performed by a separate copy protection decryption unit (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows a block representation of another example of the conditional access card 170 according to the present invention. The conditional access card 170 may include, for example, the conditional access decryption unit 200 coupled to the copy protection encryption unit 210.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating another example of a method that protects a transport content stream according to the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the process begins, in step 310, by demodulating the transport stream received by the demodulator 140 of the receiver module 120 from the head-end module 110. In step 320, the copy protection encryption unit 150 copy protection encrypts the clear packets within the demodulated transport stream. In step 330, the transport stream, including copy protection encrypted packets and scrambled packets. is then sent to the conditional access card 170 via the common interface. In step 340, the conditional access decryption unit 200 decrypts (i.e., unscrambles) the conditional access encrypted packets (i.e., the scrambled packets) of the copy protection decrypted transport stream. The conditional access decryption unit 200 may unscramble all of the scrambled packets or may unscramble some of the scrambled packets. In step 350, the copy protection encryption unit 210 then copy protection encrypts the unscrambled packets (e.g., the scrambled packets that were unscrambled by the conditional access decryption unit 200) of the transport stream, before, in step 360, sending the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the transport processor 180 via the common interface 160. In step 370, the transport processor 180 then copy protection decrypts the copy protection encrypted packets of the received transport stream before, in step 380, processing the transport stream.

It is contemplated that any known conditional access and copy protection encryption schemes may be used in connection with the various embodiments of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. In a system that protects transport stream content, the system comprising a first module and a second module, the first module comprising a common interface and being configured to demodulate an incoming transport stream, to copy protection encrypt the demodulated transport stream and to pass the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the second module via the common interface, the second module comprising: a copy protection decryptor configured to copy protection decrypt the transport stream received from the first module; a conditional access decryptor configured to conditional access decrypt at least some of packets of the transport stream that were conditional access encrypted; and a copy protection encryptor configured to copy protection encrypt the transport stream, wherein the second module is configured to pass the copy protection encrypted transport stream to the first module via the common interface.
 2. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to copy protection decrypt the transport stream received from the second module.
 3. The second module according to claim 2, wherein the first module is configured to copy protection decrypt the entire transport stream received from the second module.
 4. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a demodulator, a copy protection encryptor and a processor, the demodulator being operatively coupled to the copy protection encryptor, the copy protection encryptor being operatively coupled to the common interface, and the processor being operatively coupled to the common interface.
 5. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the common interface is operatively coupled to the copy protection decryptor, the copy protection decryptor being operatively coupled to the conditional access decryptor, the conditional access decryptor being operatively coupled to the copy protection encryptor, and the copy protection encryptor being operatively coupled to the common interface.
 6. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a set top box.
 7. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a receiver.
 8. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the second module comprises an access card.
 9. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the second module comprises a conditional access card.
 10. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the second module comprises conditional access circuitry.
 11. The second module according to claim 1, wherein the common interface is user accessible.
 12. In a system for protecting transport stream content, the system comprising a first module and a second module, the first module comprising a common interface and being configured to demodulate an incoming transport stream, to copy protection encrypt packets of the demodulated transport stream that were not conditional access encrypted, and to pass the copy protection encrypted packets and to pass the conditional access encrypted packets of the transport stream to the second module via the common interface, the second module comprising: a conditional access decryptor configured to conditional access decrypt at least some of the packets of the transport stream that were conditional access encrypted; and a copy protection encryptor configured to encrypt the packets of the transport stream that were conditional access decrypted, wherein the second module is configured to pass the transport stream to the first module via the common interface.
 13. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the first module comprises a demodulator, a copy protection encryptor and a processor, the demodulator being operatively coupled to the copy protection encryptor, the copy protection encryptor being operatively coupled to the common interface, and the processor being operatively coupled to the common interface.
 14. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the common interface is operatively coupled to the conditional access decryptor, the conditional access decryptor being operatively coupled to the copy protection encryptor, the copy protection encryptor being operatively coupled to the common interface.
 15. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the first module comprises a set top box.
 16. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the first module comprises a receiver.
 17. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the second module comprises an access card.
 18. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the second module comprises a conditional access card.
 19. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the second module comprises conditional access circuitry.
 20. The second module according to claim 12, wherein the common interface is user accessible. 